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Be My Eyes app gets August 2017 update

Tuesday, 29 August 2017 11:22am

Be My Eyes allows blind and vision impaired users to request help from a sighted person and the sighted users will then be called for help via linked video and audio between smartphones. This recently updated app is all about contributing to and benefiting from small acts of kindness, and it’s free on the App Store.

Be My Eyes logo

The new ‘Version 1.6.5’ update of Be My Eyes was rolled out on 10 August 2017 and features an expanded languages selection, added actions to call notifications, and some minor bug fixes and usability improvements.

It’s simple to use the app. When you log on, the main screen displays a button that reads ‘connect to first available volunteer’ and if you need visual assistance with something, simply tap this button. Then Be My Eyes will call a sighted volunteer (who speaks your language) and establish a video connection between you – using your phone’s camera (located at the top right corner of the non-screen side of your phone) and the microphones of both participants.

The sighted volunteer will then explain the things that you point your camera at, so the blind or vision-impaired user gets a complete understanding of their surroundings. Helpers can assist with challenges from knowing the expiry date on a carton of milk to getting help crossing the street.

There are over 500,000 sighted helpers in the Be My Eyes community around the world, with 24 hours a day assistance now being offered to blind and vision-impaired people, as often as you want. Sighted volunteers are called at random, and the company’s technology makes matches based on language and time zone, so you never need to worry about disturbing anyone.

At the moment the app is only available on for iPhone and iPad and you can get it free by downloading it from the App Store. Android users can sign up for upcoming Android version of Be My Eyes which is coming before the end of 2017 according to their website.